Chapter 202 Heartfelt Words
Xiao Qing scratched his head, his stubborn streak returning.
It's been two days now, and Fu Mingyi still hasn't come looking for him.
She felt uneasy as she went to bed that night, and Mingxiu watched her from the side, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Qing came back to her senses.
Mingxiu hesitated for a moment before walking over and lying down by the bedside, looking at her intently.
"His Majesty is very fond of Miss Chu."
Xiao Qing smiled. "She's better than I expected."
"What's so good about it?" Mingxiu asked, even more curious.
Xiao Qing sat cross-legged on the bed. "She's quite good. She's knowledgeable, well-mannered, and can think independently. She's also very calm."
She looked at Mingxiu and asked, "Have I been treating her well these past two days?"
Mingxiu nodded and pursed her lips, "He's been playing with her and showering her with gifts. His Majesty is so gentle and considerate towards her, and I've never seen His Majesty treat anyone so well."
Xiao Qing clapped her hands, "I've been so good to her, and she hasn't mentioned that matter I brought up! Besides, you heard it too, when I asked her about being happy today, she thought it was just an illusion."
She paused, "Of course, this has a lot to do with her personal experiences. It's possible that she might remain trapped in pessimism, feeling that there isn't that much beauty in the world. She's actually somewhat similar to Xiao Yan, but their inner selves are different. She seeks solace within herself, while Xiao Yan..."
Xiao Qing smacked her lips.
"How is Prince Yan?"
"He probably has destructive personality tendencies."
Mingxiu thought for a moment, "So His Majesty is being kind to Prince Yan and Miss Chu out of sympathy for them?"
Xiao Qing sighed, thinking of Qiao Bai's matter.
After that incident, Fu Mingyi was furious.
"Not entirely. Being kind to Xiao Yan is probably also for my own sake. He's growing up. As a prince, he's intelligent and well-mannered, and he might hold real power in the future. If he continues to view the people and things around him with hatred, it won't be good for him, and it might even affect me."
Mingxiu tilted her head and thought about it seriously.
"I'm good to Chu Lianzhou for two reasons. First, I saved her before—well, not exactly saved her, more like helped her. This is the second time. If I let her go back to the Chu family, wouldn't all my help have been for nothing? Besides, she really is a good person. Originally, I just thought her situation was suitable for agreeing to my conditions, but now I think her personal qualities are also very suitable. And..."
Xiao Qing paused for a moment, "Now that I've decided on her, this kind of thing is never good for a girl, so naturally I have to treat her well, just like I promised, at least to make her days in the palace less boring, tedious, and unbearable."
Although Mingxiu felt that Xiao Qing's words made sense, she still whispered, "Your Majesty, in just these two days, the entire Nanhua Palace knows about how good Your Majesty is to Miss Chu. Some people are even gossiping about it in private..."
Xiao Qing was taken aback. "What are you talking about?"
Mingxiu hesitated for a moment, "Your Majesty, those people sometimes don't think before they speak. Please don't be angry if you hear them, okay?"
Xiao Qing was both amused and exasperated. "When have I ever gotten angry over gossip? People have mouths, let them say what they want, it's not like I'm missing a piece of flesh."
She shrugged, looking particularly adorable.
Mingxiu smiled, genuinely liking Xiao Qing the way she was.
"Some say His Majesty is still a minor, yet he's already... indulging in pleasure and sensual pleasures... Others say His Majesty might want to keep Miss Chu in the palace, to make her His Majesty's first..."
Xiao Qing immediately smiled.
"Gossip really is the most enduring thing..."
On the third day, Xiao Qing felt like she was stuck at home doing homework during summer vacation, but she just wanted to watch TV. She secretly watched TV on the first day without being discovered, and she wasn't discovered on the second day either. On the third day, her courage suddenly increased exponentially.
Well, since they're not showing up, let's have our fill this time!
With this secret feeling of joy, she went to find Chu Lianzhou early in the morning.
Chu Lianzhou was pacing back and forth in the room. It wasn't the first time she had been whipped, and she felt she was almost fully recovered, at least she didn't have to use a wheelchair anymore, so she was just walking around since no one was around.
Xiao Qing saw this scene as soon as she entered the door, and immediately put on a stern face.
"Are you all better? Why are you in such a hurry to get going?"
Chu Lianzhou felt a pang of anxiety and a sense of helplessness.
His Majesty's kindness to her was indeed very good, but the fact that he had been so kind to her in such a short time made her almost unable to believe it was real.
She became even more cautious.
Xiao Qing sensed that Chu Lianzhou was somewhat different today.
It's as if she had let go a couple of days ago, but has now put it all back on.
Sigh, she knew it. Chu Lianzhou was actually a very guarded person. Being too enthusiastic might backfire.
And that just proved true...
It's alright. You have to eat one bite at a time, drink one sip at a time, and live one day at a time.
"Yeah, it's pretty boring, mostly sitting or sleeping all day."
She nodded. "Is there anything you particularly want to do?"
Chu Lianzhou thought for a moment and said, "Anything is fine?"
Xiao Qing laughed. "If I were to say yes, wouldn't it sound too fake?"
Chu Lianzhou also smiled.
"I don't have anything in particular I want to do. If possible, I would like to return to the Chu family."
Xiao Qing was genuinely surprised, and her smile gradually faded.
"Why do you want to go back to the Chu family?"
Chu Lianzhou was about to bow.
Xiao Qing stepped forward to stop her, then helped her to a chair next to him and sat down on another chair himself.
"Tell me your thoughts. It's good to have them out in the open today."
She waved to Mingxiu, whispered a few words in her ear, and then Mingxiu went out to say a few words to Ma Hong. After that, she dismissed everyone and went to get tea and snacks, leaving Ma Hong to guard the door.
After a while, she personally brought in tea, then went back out and stood guard outside the hall with Ma Hong.
White steam rises and the aroma of tea fills the air.
Chu Lianzhou poured Xiao Qing a cup of tea. His aloof face was partially obscured by the tea steam, and his expression was unreadable.
"Your Majesty, are you aware of the whispers circulating in the palace?"
Xiao Qing nodded; she had heard it from Mingxiu last night.
"His Majesty doesn't seem to care much."
Xiao Qing nodded again, "Their mouths are on their bodies, and I can't sew them shut."
Chu Lianzhou was actually somewhat disappointed.
“Your Majesty, although everyone in the palace is your servant, people’s hearts are complicated. They may be able to perform their duties, but they may not be able to be loyal.” Chu Lianzhou’s tone became slightly somber.
Xiao Qing was somewhat puzzled. "What is Lian Zhou trying to say?"
Chu Lianzhou remained silent for a moment, then boldly looked directly into her eyes.
"Your Majesty is kind and open-minded, and can even lend a helping hand to strangers, saving my daughter from dire straits more than once. However, Your Majesty tends to let things take their natural course and lacks decisiveness, so even if you hold great power, it is just a formality."
She knelt down and bowed deeply.
"His Majesty does not have the right to decide his own bride."
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